Joe Biden Endorses Gay Marriage

Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States of America, has endorsed gay marriage during an appearance on NBC series Meet the Press.

Biden has made history by becoming the highest ranking U.S official to give his backing to gay marriage – publicly. The Democrat politician also cited NBC comedy Will and Grace (which starred Eric McCormack and Debra Messing) as being instrumental in shifting the general public’s opinion on homosexual. Will and Grace revolved around a gay man (McCormack) who shared his flat with his female best friend (Messing) – the comedy also starred Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes.

On Meet the Press Biden as asked by host David Gregory is his position on gay marriage had “evolved” to a point where he was now accepting of it. The Vice Presidential replied ‘I just think that the good news is that … more and more Americans [have] come to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition: Who do you love? Who do you love and will you be loyal to the person you love? And that’s what people are finding out what all marriages at their root are about’

Gregory pressed Biden on the issue and the politician added ‘Look, I am Vice President of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying woman and heterosexual men marrying women are entitled to the same, exact rights. All the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly I don’t see much of a distinction beyond that’

A small number of states in America have legalised gay marriage in recent years such as Iowa, New York, New Hampshire and more recently Washington State and Maryland. Other states in the country are pressing ahead with amendments to ban gay marriage. The official position of President Barack Obama on the issue is unclear though he is more open on gay rights than many of his Republican counter-parts.

Biden added that he believed America was on course for change regarding its attitude to homosexuality adding ‘I think Will & Grace did more to educate the American public more than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand’

Will and Grace actress Debra Messing, currently starring in NBC’s musical drama Smash, took to Twitter after Biden’s appearance on Meet the Press. The actress tweeteed, tagging her former co-star Eric McCormack, ‘I could not be more proud. Thank you Mr. Vice President for yer support and yer words about W&G. #humbled’